The Life of a Petite Knight Ch. 02

Ch. 02 -- I Never Said Fairies Were Nice -- Part 1

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"I don't get it."

"...What is it this time?" Snarled the young maid back at her partner, refusing to open her eyes as she buried her face into her sizable, custom made, and very expensive, devilsilk pillow. The soft material felt even better against her skin than advertised, she idly thought as she attempted to will herself awake and listen to her partner's unavoidable ramblings.

"Whatever goes through that bitch's head, is what," her partner began, straightening he back. "Do you think she gets off on it or-- Can't you at least look at me while I'm talking to you!? If you're going to sleep while on the job, the least you can do is indulge me a little!"

With a deep sigh, Maribelle stirred from her patch of grass and turned her head towards her partner, her golden locks clashing against the ashen pillow. The two maids were laying low between some bushes in the Queen's Gardens in wait for their prey, all due to a spontaneous request made by the princess at the earliest hours of the morning.

Both maids sat in silence as they both glared daggers at each other until Maribelle spat her reply. "For starters, I amtrying to sleep on the job because a certain someone, foronce not you, was gracious enough to interrupt my beauty sleep with childish requests. So I'd say I'm doing plenty just by being present.

Maribelle's head fell unceremoniously once again onto the pillow, losing herself on the comfortable sensation, as what little reserves of venom she had recovered during the night were already depleted. "Now, are you talking about the bitch with a 'P' or with a 'B'?"

"Oh! The Petty Princess of course!" Nepucci's eyes lit up as her partner gave her the implicit permission to go on, having quickly forgotten about any issue that had arisen with Maribelle moments prior. "She sends someone up to our room before the sun is even out, like she owns the damn place, then orders us to find her a bloody invisible magical critter by the days end!"

"...Just becauseyou can't them doesn't mean they're invisible."

"That's literally what invisible means, you pedantic harlot!" Exclaimed her temperamental partner as she stood up and ran her fingers through her green-dyed hair in an exasperated manner, this was obviously a topic that many had previously debated with her to no result.

"Right," there was no need to push the issue, so Maribelle decided to move on. "But yes, I believe she does get off on it. Both her bothersome requests and the critters, that is."

Nepucci sat down, crossing her legs as one hand lazily finished combing her hair in an attempt to fix her bob cut. "That's disgusting."

"Don't you get off on that too?"

"I meant the 'critters' part. There's wrong nothing with getting off on taking the piss out of someone, I'll have you know." She pushed down on her own black and white uniform's skirt, applying pressure directly to her crotch in a crude attempt at emphasis; although Maribelle wasn't giving her the laziest of glances. Not that it made a difference to either of them.

"Lord, I pity Kaathe."

Nepucci's glare returned as she tasted a familiar metallic flavor on her tongue while biting down on it, halting any further remarks on the topic, to avoid embarrassing herself any further in front of her partner. The blonde knew how to work her up.

They both laid there in serene silence for a couple more minutes, one drifting to sleep while the other lost herself deep in thought. The Queen's Gardens were a beautiful place, that fact was undeniable. From the abundant exotic flora that gave the place a mixture of unique aromas, none of them unpleasant, to the small artificial lake and even the docile fauna that was allowed to frolic in the otherwise private environment.

They had both heard the rumors of fairies that grew to enjoy living in this place, they were not hard to believe all things considered. But having been tasked to not only prove the rumor to be correct, but to also find a way to capture a living fairy as per the princess's request in such short notice was outrageous.

Despite never having seen one, Nepucci knew very well what that entailed. Fairies were small and delicate creatures, yet they were well known to bethe troublemakers and tricksters of the magic world. Under normal circumstances it'd be a wonder for such creatures to avoid, well,extinction for so long. But of course, as fae, they were anything but normal.

The small humanoids were blessed with the uncanny ability to avoid detection, that is to say, if they didn't want you to know they were there you would not know they were there. They could literally be dancing on their heads and they'd be none the wiser.

An ability so enviable seemed wasted in the little pests. Such was the frustrating nature of the fey-kin.

Nepucci was starting to grow frustrated once again, anxiously tapping her foot as she subconsciously prepared herself to nag her partner once more. But the sound of Maribelle's voice halted that notion. "You know... I've heard that fairies like honey."

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Fairies.

A rather unusual request coming even from Her Highness, no doubt. As far as anyone involved was aware, the princess was quite content with her current pet. The implications from desiring to make a jump from a human to a fey should not be understated.

The fey were known for being wild, untameable and all-around a pain to deal with, and fairies were often considered to be the very embodiment of these traits. While humans were practically the opposite, being highly adaptable to any situation, eventually coming to accept whichever fate life dealt to them.

Despite the look of concentration on her face as she was hard at work, Kaathe's mind had already wandered off trying to put together the pieces of an unknown puzzle. Ideas of what may lie behind the princess' rather peculiar request.

Her fingers weaved the imported silk in an almost mechanical dance, having already settled on the shape of the garment, her years of practice once again took over as she put the needles to work.

Kaathe had already had encounters with the fairy folk. The small humanoids were a shy yet playful bunch, they enjoyed playing pranks and being mild nuisances for the big folk but rarely went farther than the occasional stolen shoe; although some tales begged to differ.

They were free spirits, graceful, playful and seemingly ageless.Untainted. They had short tempers, kind hearts and a bad habit of wandering after whichever new thing caught their glance on a whim.

You'd have to be a real cunt to mess with the fairies, is what I'm trying to say.

Yet the princess ordered the capture and imprisonment of at least one specimen. This was, as usual, unprovoked, unsavory, deplorable, disgusting, icky and highly illegal.

What's that? Most of those words mean the same thing? Ridiculous, they are different words for a reason.

Regardless, it's not like it mattered for someone of her standing. If anything, Kaathe counted herself lucky for not being put in charge of the capture itself, despite the fact that she'd have an easier time than her peers.

You see, fairies are some small and frail little things, they couldn't win a fight against my big toe. Their only means of protection in this big, mean world is their unnatural ability to live beneath someone's perception. That is to say, someone that has never seen a fairy could have one picking their nose while sharing a pillow and they'd wouldn't have a clue.

Though some people, like Kaathe, that have been blessed by a past meeting with the fae are allowed to see them regardless. A show of trust, in a way.

So, either the princess didn't know or she allowed Kaathe this small mercy. Both options seemed quite plausible.

"Ouch!" Exclaimed Kaathe under her breath as the sewing needle pierced her skin slightly, her thoughts having drifted too far from her task.

Her task? Sewing little vests to restrain the soon-to-be-captured fairies wings.

Surely, something as crude as tying their wings together with string would do just fine. But allowing the little things some freedom and dignity was worth spending the extra effort. They will also look positively adorable, Kaathe thought.

Nepucci and Maribelle would surely catch at least one, but just to be sure, Kaathe was making four of the little garments. She was thankful for the distraction, as there was still one more thing Kaathe needed to take care of once this was done, but she'd cross that bridge once she got there.

"Kaathe, come here for a second."

A voice called her name from the other side of the room. The familiar voice of her senior and absolute authority regarding anything related to the production and handling of fabrics in the castle, and debatably the entire kingdom, Magnolia.

Kaathe wasted no time in making her way towards the older woman, she knew better than making a senior wait. Magnolia sat at her desk by the room's window, multiple foreign fabrics that seemingly reflected the light in ways Kaathe had never even thought possible before were spread in front of her form. "Ma'am?" Kaathe addressed her superior.

"I know I probably shouldn't ask... But would you mind explaining what exactly are those two doing?" Inquired Magnolia as she pointed at whatever was outside her window, although Kaathe was already getting some ideas.

Outside the window lied a nice view of the Queen's Gardens, an expansive lush natural habitat protected within castle walls for the enjoyment of the royal family and their guests. It was also where her juniors were supposed to hunt down the fairies as per the princess' request.

Kaathe took a look through the window as she quickly made out the distant figure of Maribelle hidden between some bushes, the sleeping blonde's form hardly being a surprise to Kaathe.

The same could not be said about the other maid, however. Just far enough as not to disturb her sleeping partner lied the form of Nepucci, as naked as the day she was born and glistening with some kind of golden hue. Not to mention the rather shameless motions her limbs were making as they spread some unknown substance onto her skin.

Mostly out of politeness, Kaathe quickly averted her flustered gaze. "I am so, so sorry, ma'am! I'll be sure to reprimand them for this indecency," she instinctively apologized for her juniors indiscretion.

"Right. No matter, as I'm sure this has to be related to Her Highness' pranks. I'm counting on you to make them behave themselves in the future." With that, Kaathe was dismissed as Magnolia returned to her task.

Unbelievable. Those two were in a world of trouble once Blenke caught wind of their rather... unconventional bug-catching methods. She'll probably punish Kaathe too, for good measure.

With a heavy sigh, and some rather indecent thought creeping their way into her mind, Kaathe went back to her workbench with renewed vigor, as she settled on getting today's tasks over with and enjoy the rest of her day.

At the very least, before the end of the night, she would be getting some ofthat.

---

With a flick of her wrist, Kaathe absentmindedly dismissed the two guardsmen who for a moment seemed intent on pestering her as she made her way through the lower levels of the building. They quickly fell in line, of course, as the young maid went on her way through the halls.

Her position as not only one of the royal family's maids, but the protegee of the head maid herself, granted her a certain degree of respect and authority. Something she rarely got to enjoy, her work life mostly consisting of her being ordered around by her superiors, finishing a task and promptly moving on with the next, with little time in between.

Thankfully, since her mistress was taking a day off, once she was done with the princess' request she'd be free for the day.Lucky~, Kaathe hummed to herself as she absentmindedly dismissed another guard.

Getting to actually use her authority every once in a while felt a bit too good for the overworked maid.

Yes. Usually, she'd be busy from dawn until dusk with her regular duties, and every spare moment would be taken away with her mistress' training. Not tonight though! Tonight she'd be free to go beyond the castle's walls and enjoy the city, for once. Something she was very much looking forward to.

Sigh. It had really been entirely too long. As one of the royal family's maids, the duties and restrictions cast upon her were clear, and back when Kaathe had first applied for the job that seemed reasonable enough. But after years of intense training and servitude, it was all chipping away at her sanity.

Being confined to inside the castle walls and worked to the bone drained her mentally rather than physically. The fact that most maids of her standing only got a single night to themselves per month didn't help matters either. But at the very least she and the other maids had learned to make the best of the brief moments of respite.

Lost in thought, Kaathe hadn't paid much attention as she found herself walking past a surprisingly large number of guards and walking down a set of stairs. Hidden from most, the stairs were poorly illuminated all the way through and down for what she estimated to be at least three floors.

Before too long, Kaathe had already reached her destination, an imposing door covered in some kind of red velvet any marked with the kingdom's coat-of-arms. The royal armory.

Situated in one of the most heavily guarded, hidden underground sections of the castle were the royal family's most precious treasures. Only for the use of the kingdom's most renowned knights, were the legendary weapons gathered through years of heroism and conquest.

Kaathe couldn't help but be taken aback by the sight. This was in actuality the first time she would enter the room. She had heard stories from her peers, about the legendary artifacts that awaited behind that door. Each one sharing a rich past and unfathomable power.

Steadying her breath, Kaathe pushed open the door, much heavier than it looked, as she was left in awe as the slightly damp atmosphere around her changed. What was mere moments ago a cold and dimly lit stairway, was now invaded with the pleasant warmth of a spring breeze.

As she peered inside, Kaathe's eyes widened by a sight she would at some earlier point in her life never have thought possible. Mounted on the walls as if they were in a museum's exhibition, which in a way they were, dozens of weapons on display awaited her. All seemingly radiating that calming warmth. All standing proudly for anyone to see.

In a trance, Kaathe took her first step into the room. Words failed her as her eyes bounced from an item to the next. She had heard stories of many of these artifacts and their wielders since she was an infant, so being in their presence was a surreal experience, to say the least.

Without noticing, she had found herself in front of a halberd, seemingly made of a translucent material and without a single dent in its blade. As she extended a hand and reached for the blade she barely noticed her deafening heartbeats, and as her finger graced the material, she nearly felt faint.

Kaathe recalled stories about this very weapon. Wielded by a warrior only known in history as Taiga the Painless, countless wars in the old continent were won by it's might alone. Yet the blade never once showed sings of wear through the ages. And, somehow, this ancient fragment of history now rested right in front of her.

Her thoughts were running wild as she stared dumfounded. But in her stupor, her eyes caught a glimpse of another item. Not too far from her, a quarterstaff so imperfect in its shape that it could only have been a product of mother nature herself. Even as it stood now isolated deep underground, it defiantly grew small branches of vegetation.Gaia's Splinter, she recognized.

An item said to be a gift upon the world by the mother of all giants. Used to reshape the land into a more habitable state.

This pattern continued as Kaathe lost her sense of time. The Twin Blades of the Stormguard, Selene's Spear, the Dawnbreaker, and much more. Each and every artifact telling a story of generations long past as the maid made her way through the room.

Then, without much fanfare or celebration, she reached it. That which she was sent to retrieve.

At the very end of the room, on a small pedestal, rested a small engraved metal case no larger than her hand. Now, as she fell from the high she had been riding until mere moments ago, Kaathe became acutely aware of her increased heart rate; which had blown past deafening to the point where she felt downright sick.

From all the other items in the room, this one was different. Aside from the obvious, this was also the only one Kaathe had had the honor of seeing before.

Lady Day the Ruthless, as she was once known, was a well-known and accomplished treasure hunter. She had raided countless ancient ruins and tombs across the continent, yet she refused to ever keep what riches she found, deciding instead to use those invaluable treasures for the reconstruction and preservation of the very same ruins they were found in. All in a selfless attempt at conserving humanity's history and better the kingdoms economy. But there was a single exception.

Found deep within the ruins of the new continent's oldest kingdom, there once rested a blade forged from gold and sunlight. Wielded by the king of kings, the one responsible for planting the seeds behind every aspect of our modern world. Taking his people on a voyage across the seas, leaving behind the old continent and conquering the promised land.

Lady Day took that sword as her own and brandished it as a protector of the weak, swearing to serve the world the king of kings had given us she gave it the very name of the one who had wielded it before her,Ascalon.

Kaathe gently picked up the case with both hands using her utmost care. Her fingers failed her as her anxiety got the better of her, not being able to will herself into opening the case. She took a deep breath and steadied her resolve. Before she could hesitate again, she swiftly opened the case with an audibleclick, the contents of which took her breath away.

A tragedy. No, a blasphemy.

The once-mighty blade now truly displayed her status a shortsword, in a cruel, if ironic, way. The comically oversized case drew the point home, as the centimeter long blade had space to spare. Despite this, unlike every other weapon in the armory who only gave the illusion of, the legendary sword pridefully shined with its own mystical energy, as if it wasn't aware of its current situation.

Hesitantly, Kaathe reached for the handle of the sword with two fingers, picking it up for a closer inspection. The once-mighty blade could hardly even be called that anymore. Images of toothpicks much larger than the sword flashed through her mind, as she struggled to push those disrespectful thoughts away.

As curiosity got the better of her. She loosened her grip on the case, letting one of her digits hang free. Kaathe tentatively let the minuscule blade approach her limp finger as she gave herself a small poke.

"Eeep!" Both the sword and the case fell to the ground, the loud clatter of the case far overshadowing the blade's, as an electric shock startled the young maid.Well, seems that despite its appearance, it still works.

Kaathe swiftly kneeled to collect the items she dropped, thankful that no one was around to witness that shameful display.

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By the gods, how long has it been since she entered the armory!? Kaathe had tried to finish her job as fast as possible to avoid exactly this.